Port Nelson is deploying a private 5G network in partnership with Spark New Zealand and Ericsson Enterprise Wireless Solutions, marking a major step forward in connectivity, safety, and productivity across its warehousing operations.
The new 5G network is being deployed across three warehouses in Nelson and Blenheim, covering around 30,000 square metres, including adjacent outdoor yard areas, and forklifts. Previously, dense warehouse layouts and the complexity of the port environment created persistent Wi‑Fi dead zones, disrupting operations and forcing staff to adapt their work to stay connected.
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Reagan Pattison, General Manager, Business Transformation at Port Nelson, says that connectivity was becoming a real operational constraint.
“No matter how much we invested in Wi Fi solutions, we couldn’t get consistent performance. It’s impacted productivity, created frustration for our operators, and limited our ability to modernise how we work.”
The private 5G network delivers secure, high-performance connectivity across the site, providing consistent coverage for workers and equipment, even as they move between public and private 5G networks. Forklifts equipped with onboard routers remain connected in real time, supporting tracking and operational efficiency.
In addition to productivity gains, the network is enabling new safety capabilities. A digital push-to-talk system improves real-time communication, while future applications such as location-based alerts and geofencing will help separate workers from heavy machinery.
Ericsson’s NetCloud platform also provides visibility into network performance, helping teams quickly identify and resolve issues.
“Safety is fundamental in a port environment. Private 5G gives us the ability to prioritise critical communications, improve visibility of what’s happening across the site, and move towards more proactive, engineered safety controls,” Pattison continued.
Ian Ross, Head of Private Networks ANZ, Ericsson Enterprise Wireless Solutions, says reliable connectivity is critical in industrial environments.
“By using Private 5G, Port Nelson now has a dedicated network using the latest cellular wireless capabilities that can support real time operations today while providing a strong foundation for future digital innovation.”
Greg Clark, Chief Customer Officer at Spark, says the deployment highlights how private 5G is enabling innovation in New Zealand. “Port Nelson is a great example of how private 5G is unlocking new value for New Zealand businesses operating in complex, production critical environments.”
“Spark’s 5G+ Private Network is designed for organisations that need secure, high performance connectivity they can rely on. At Port Nelson, it’s enabling safer warehouse operations today while opening the door to automation and smarter ways of working in the future.”
Looking ahead, the network could be expanded across Port Nelson’s wider operations and support advanced applications such as real-time asset tracking, predictive maintenance, AI-enabled vision, and automation.
By strengthening the reliability and efficiency of a critical export gateway, the private 5G network delivered by Spark and Ericsson has the potential to unlock productivity gains for Port Nelson, the wider South Island, and the region’s economy.